THE CIMMERIAN: HOUR OF THE DRAGON #4, from Ablaze Publishing on June 15th, 2022, brings the comic retelling of Howard’s classic tale to a close with a race to reacquire the Heart of Ahriman and end Xaltotun’s reign.
The Details
- Written By: Julien Blondel
- Art By: Valentin Sécher
- Colors By: Valentin Sécher
- Letters By: Dezi Sienty
- Cover Art By: Kendrick Lim (cover A)
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Release Date: June 15, 2022
Was It Good?
THE CIMMERIAN: HOUR OF THE DRAGON #4 is a practically perfect Conan story adaptation. From the dialog to the pacing to the jaw-dropping art, this issue is dripping with moody, grim, barbarian-fueled power. But for a minor criticism of the art, this is as close as we get to a 10 out of 10.
The highlight of this issue is Blondel’s masterful adaptation of the source material. Not a drop of nuance or meaning is lost in the translation, either in the pacing, the sequence of events, or the dialog. Howard’s story comes to life exactly as Howard intended, and if you’re a fan of the source material, this is the level of care and detail you’d hope to see when Hollywood (hopefully) adapts Conan to film in the future.
Likewise, the art is simply stunning. Sécher casts moody shadows on every page for maximum dramatic effect, and the linework is incredibly detailed. There are times when realism in comic art is appropriate and other times it is not. Here, realism is not only appropriate, but it enhances Blondel’s adaptation.
The small down point in this issue is Sécher’s occasional overuse of darkness in some panels. There are a few spots in the opening sequence where the panels are so dark that you can’t make out the details of the characters and the setting, even in the torchlight. Shadows and darkness are important tools to set the mood, but they can be overdone.
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What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Why is Conan going after the Heart? Find out first in our THE CIMMERIAN: HOUR OF THE DRAGON #3 review.
We begin with Conan stealthily infiltrating the stronghold of Thutothmes and the Cult of Set as they prepare to use the Heart of Ahriman to resurrect ancient immortals. As Conan petitions to take the Heart in his quest to defeat Xaltotun, the latter’s assassins arrive to retrieve the Heart for Xaltotun and kill whoever gets in their way. Soon, Conan takes cover as undead killers battle immortal zealots.
Eventually, the malignant forces cancel each out, and Conan claims the Heart for the witch who can undo Xaltotun’s resurrection. Later, Conan’s armies combine with allies’ forces in a snowy valley as they await the signal to attack Xaltotun’s legions.
We conclude the issue with a one-on-one chat in a lonely tent, the weight of armored horses on cracking ice, and an acknowledgment of destiny.
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Final Thoughts
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THE CIMMERIAN: HOUR OF THE DRAGON #4 is a stellar conclusion to a stellar adaptation of Robert E. Howard’s most famous creation. The adaptation to comics captures the essence of the source material without losing an ounce of importance, and the art is stunning.
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